Explaining the Violent Conflicts in Nigeria’s Niger Delta: Is the Rentier State Theory and the Resource-curse Thesis Relevant?

Ali S. Yusufu Bagaji, Joseph Odoba Achegbulu, Abu Maji, Natala Yakubu

Abstract

Since the early 1970s when crude oil became Nigeria’s main source of foreign exchange, it soon joined the league table of rentier states. However, beginning from the second half of the 1990s to date, the Niger Delta, the heartbeat and the engine that drives Nigeria’s economy has being stormed by large scale tsunamis of unimaginable proportion due to militant activities. Consequently, Nigeria’s quest for unity, stability, national security and accelerated economic development are being undermined. This article explores the relevance of the rentier state theory and the resource-Curse thesis to explaining essence of the renewed violence in the Niger Delta. The article concludes that, although the basic assumptions of the rentier state theory and resource-curse thesis are relevant, there are other salient factors that are also paramount.Key words: Rentier state; Resource curse; Oil resource; Violent conflict; Niger delta

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